Americas
* On Wednesday the Navy awarded a
* Rheinmetall and ELTA Systems Ltd have been awarded two contracts by the Canadian government to supply Integrated Soldier Systems and ten EL/M-2084 medium-range radar systems, the radar system employed with the Israeli Iron Dome system. The radar systems will serve in both Counter-Rocket, Artillery & Mortar (C-RAM) and air surveillance operational contexts. The two contracts total approximately $391 million, with Rheinmetall Canada acting as the prime contractor. The Integrated Soldier System contract contains options for up to 4,144 of the systems.
* Brazil will receive the final eight of thirty-four Krauss-Maffei Wegmann-manufactured air defense guns within coming weeks. The Gepard 1A2 35mm Self Propelled Anti-Air Guns were ordered from the German Army in May 2013, with the contract valued at $41 million. The Gepard was phased out of service with the Bundeswehr from 2010, replaced with the multi-tiered air defense system Brazil is implementing ahead of the 2016 Olympics, with Russian hardware forming a large part of the inventory.
Middle East North Africa
* Saudi Arabia has requested Patriot PAC-3 missiles and auxiliary equipment through a potential $5.4 billion deal, which would modernize the Kingdom’s current stockpile of Patriot missiles. This DSCA request comes on the heels of a $1.5 billion contract announced by Lockheed Martin earlier this month, which will see Foreign Military Sales partners worldwide upgraded with new PAC-3 and PAC-3MSE interceptors, including Saudi Arabia, as well as another DSCA request from October 2014 for PAC-3 missiles, with that request valued at $1.75 billion.
* Morocco will receive three ex-US Army CH-47D Chinook helicopters, after the completion of seven months of refurbishment. The delivery of the helicopters is part of a US Army Security Assistance Command Foreign Military Sale program valued at $78.9 million, with Columbia Helicopters undertaking the refurbishment work with a $6 million contract awarded in August 2014.
* The United Arab Emirates has requested four AN/AAQ 24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) systems, in a potential sale estimated to value $335 million. Manufactured by Northrop Grumman, the DIRCM systems are intended to equip the aircraft of the UAE’s Head of State, President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Europe
* Turkey is thinking of renegotiating a possible deal with China over the sale of HQ-9 air defense systems, to fulfill the country’s T-LORAMIDS competition. Chinese official media announced in March that the non-NATO system had won the $3.4 billion competition, beating out bids from the Eurosam consortium and Raytheon/Lockheed Martin, with the Patriot. Turkish President Erdogan is traveling to Beijing in coming weeks, with the leader likely seeking to improve on the Chinese offer. Meanwhile the Turkish defense procurement agency has established parallel negotiations with the European and US teams.
* France is anticipating an additional pair of export orders for its Rafale fighter, with Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates reportedly the most likely candidates. Reuters also reported Thursday that negotiations between India and France are now also discussing the possible supply of additional Rafales on top of the 36 ordered in April. Malaysia is looking to replace its MiG-29 Fulcrums, with the UAE recently restarting negotiations for the Rafale as it looks to swap out its fleet of Mirage 2000-9 fighters. The Gulf state has previously articulated a potential buy of sixty Rafales.
* Airborne technology firm UTC Aerospace Systems is developing a smaller version of its Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado (RAPTOR) EO/IR pod, which currently fits the Royal Air Force’s Panavia GR4 Tornado fleet. With these scheduled for retirement in 2019, the company is looking to produce a smaller RAPTOR pod for integration with the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoons.
* Following initial reports from early July, Germany has awarded an eight-year contract to Airbus Defence & Space and Lockheed Martin Overseas Services Corp. to re-wing the German Navy’s fleet of P-3C orion maritime patrol aircraft. The contract will cover eight P-3C aircraft, with Lockheed Martin manufacturing the new Mid-Life Upgrade kits on a production line opened in 2005 and Airbus responsible for integration and installation of the kits. Previous estimates put the value of a ten-aircraft contract at approximately $626 million. Norway has also invested in upgrading its Orions through a re-winging program. Germany previously requested aircraft mission computer, acoustic systems and simulator equipment for its Orion fleet, detailed in a DSCA request from April 2014.
Asia
* The Indian Air Force has asked state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to cease development of the HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer, following repeated revisions to the jet’s R&D schedule. The IAF operates the Hawk and Pilatus PC-7 as its advanced and basic trainers respectively, whilst lacking an intermediate development aircraft for its flight crews. The IAF announced in August 2014 that alternatives to the IJT were being explored, with the country’s Defense Ministry subsequently floating an Expression of Interest for alternative designs, with this sent to several European and North American firms, as well as Korea Aerospace Industries. Textron AirLand was not sent the EoI, despite Indian Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha reportedly expressing interest in using the company’s Scorpion aircraft as an IJT.
* Australia has received the country’s seventh C-17A transporter, the first of two aircraft ordered in April to complement the six already in service. The second of the pair is expected by the end of the year, with the aircraft all operated by the Royal Australian Air Force’s 36 Squadron in Queensland.
Today’s Video
* The Gepard 1A2 firing
